Amsterdam Hotel
 

Hi All! We've never been to Amsterdam. We will be going in March to visit my daughter who will be studying abroad. We will only have 3 nights. I don't even know what I want to be close to. I would like a very nice hotel, near a canal and possibly near museums, Anne frank house. Is this possible? Thank you for any advice!

I just got back from Amsterdam and spent two nights at the Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht (Hyatt). This is a far more expensive hotel than I'd ever stay at normally (going rate was over 400 Euro/night) but I got two free nights through a Hyatt credit card promotion. The area was great. Prinsengracht (Prince's canal) close to the Jordan is considered a pretty nice part of Amsterdam. (The Anne Frank House is in this area.) The Andaz is kind of artsy and modern, maybe not to everyone's tastes, plus the bathroom is one of those with limited privacy in the room (shower door glass is semi-transparent).

The Andaz is near Leidseplein, a popular neighborhood. You can walk to museums easily from here. Amsterdam itself is very walkable anyway, and the trams otherwise get you around quite well. I also stayed at the Marriott in Leidseplein a few years ago - a more conventional type of hotel (if boring chain hotel) than the Andaz.

You can't really go wrong with either of those hotels if they are in your price range. You can use a website like booking.com (I've used it many times) to search for hotels near those for reference, using the map feature. You might find other smaller, nicer hotels or B&Bs that would be more intimate, then look them up on TripAdvisor and see how they are reviewed. (TA reviews are not always reliable, but for me a consensus of reviews seems reliable.) Pick two or three choices and post the here to get final opinions if you want.

We stayed at the Ambassade. On a canal, close to restaurants, museums, etc. Great staff, wonderful views...

Conscious Hotel Museum Square usually has good prices, they have a "family sized" room if your daughter will be joining you.

We concur re Ambassade
Also check out the wonderful Pulitzer

Another fan of the Ambassade here. It's so, so charming, as well as well staffed and located.

We also stayed at Ambassade and will return there. It was recommended to us by a friend who lives near the hotel.Wonderful area.

Suggestion to look at this site:
http://www.amsterdam-bed-and-breakfasts.com

Personally I prefer a B&B over a large, impersonal hotel anytime.
All of Amsterdam's main museums have recently been renovated and are absolutely amazing. The Rijksmuseum has centuries of art stored within it's walls; if you like contemporary art there is the Stedelijk Museum.
Personally I was very disappointed at the Anne Frank house. You stand in line for hours and then have to use your own imagination to picture the circumstances this family lived in during the war as the rooms are not furnished.
I found the Jewish Historical Museum worth a visit but it depends on the collection which changes periodically.

A price range always helps people to give helpful recommendations. By "very nice" are you talking $250/night, $500/night? Also do you want something sleek & modern, or old & historic?

<i>Amsterdam Hotel
Posted by: jrisavy on Jun 29, 16 at 8:20pm
Hi All! We've never been to Amsterdam. We will be going in March to visit my daughter who will be studying abroad. We will only have 3 nights. I don't even know what I want to be close to. I would like a very nice hotel, near a canal</i>

Ditto again for the Ambassade, on the Herengracht. "Gracht" = canal. It is a short walk to the Spui, my favorite little piece of Amsterdam.